Dr. Manuel Martinez-Maldonado: A Pioneer in Renal Therapeutics and Mentor to a Generation of Minority Physician-Scientists.

Dr. Manuel Martinez-Maldonado is a distinguished Puerto Rican internist, nephrologist, physician-scientist, mentor, and prolific writer whose leadership in academic and clinical settings has significantly advanced the fields of nephrology, renal physiology and pharmacology, fluids and electrolyte metabolism, calcium metabolism, hypertension research, and medical education. His research on electrolyte imbalances has led to innovative hypercalcemia treatments, notably furosemide with IV fluid therapy.

Breath-Body-Mind Core Techniques to Manage Medical Student Stress.

Objectives: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a live, interactive, synchronous, online, manualized intervention, Breath-Body-Mind Introductory Course (BBM-IC), for medical students. BBM-IC includes breathing, movement, and attention-focus techniques for stress management and better emotion regulation, energy, sleep, and mental focus.

Methods: Medical students attending a 2-h BBM demonstration were invited to participate in the 12-h BBM-IC and weekly 45-min 6-week group practice.

COVID-19 Serological Study in Non-infected Vaccinated Subjects: Differences among Age, Sex, and Vaccine Brand.

Objective: To evaluate IgG antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 in non-infected vaccinated subjects among vaccine brand, sex, and age.

Methods: Abbott's AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgG II immunoassay was used to measure IgG levels within 6-9 months after the second dose vaccination; level >50 AU/mL was classified as a positive test.

Results: Data of 183 non-infected vaccinated subjects was analyzed according to the vaccine brand, time after second vaccination, sex, and age.

Coaching tailored by stages: A valuable educational strategy to achieve independence in research.

This study presents an individualized coaching approach tailored to the stages of proximity of promising scientists interested in becoming independently funded researchers in the context of a minority-serving institution. This strategy defined the participant's stage of proximity by their number of first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals and their track record in submitting research grants. We argue that coaching tailored by stages is an asset to maintain the enthusiasm, persistence, and positive attitude of promising scientists as they try to reach independent investigator status.

Integrating Distance Strategies to Meet the 2020 Summer Research Internship Competencies and Objectives.

Knowledge of research skills such as information literacy, critical thinking, ability to ask questions, and evidence-based decisions are necessary for all medical students. They will use these skills for clinical decisions, translate research findings to clinical practice, and educate their patients. Research also plays an essential role in the selection process for many residency programs, and it has only become more critical over time.

Promoting Diversity in the Clinical and Translational Research Workforce.

The positive impact of diversity in increasing the effectiveness of the research workforce has been undeniably demonstrated to be an essential element for achieving health equity. Diversity is also instrumental for the research workforce to advance discovery, eliminate health disparities, improve minority health and achieve effective patient-centered outcomes in the quest for better health. One of the sustainable ways to achieve diversity in the workforce is through training, education and career development of all interested individuals including minority, underserved, underrepresented and populations with special needs.

Low to Normal Plasma Levels of Marinobufagenin 24 Hours or More after an Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong relationship between circulating levels of marinobufagenin (MBG) and salt-sensitivity. Since salt-sensitive hypertensives have increased plasma levels of MBG and are known to be at a higher risk of having cardiovascular events, stroke and increased mortality, we evaluated the possibility of an association between MBG and ischemic stroke. In this pilot study, we determined plasma MBG levels in patients after surviving an ischemic stroke compared to similar age and gender groups of treated hypertensives and normotensive controls.

Translation in Data Mining to Advance Personalized Medicine for Health Equity.

Personalized medicine is the development of 'tailored' therapies that reflect traditional medical approaches, with the incorporation of the patient's unique genetic profile and the environmental basis of the disease. These individualized strategies encompass disease prevention, diagnosis, as well as treatment strategies. Today's healthcare workforce is faced with the availability of massive amounts of patient- and disease-related data.

A New Animal Model to Study Endogenous Cardiotonic Steroids and the Progression of Cardiovascular Events in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension.

The Dahl salt-sensitive rat is a well-established model to study essential hypertension. We first described a subgroup of these rats based on the unique response pattern in systolic blood pressure during the first weeks of exposure to a high salt diet that included cataract formation. We classified this group as cataract-prone Dahl salt-sensitive rat.

Impact of Day of the Week and Time of Arrival on Ischemic Stroke Management.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between measures of patient arrival day (weekday or weekend day), day part (nighttime vs. daytime) and hour (regular hours vs. off hours) at the stroke unit of the Emergency Department of the Puerto Rico Medical Center and the following time-to-treatment measures: door-to-CT-scan, door-to-needle, and stroke-onset-to-treatment.

Incorporating translational research with clinical research to increase effectiveness in healthcare for better health.

Background: The transfer of new scientific discoveries into healthcare interventions requires that basic and clinical researchers work together with health care providers to generate team science. These innovative models require translational teams, and need to extend beyond the academic environment. The future of translational science requires partnerships with the healthcare community as well as the broader, general community.

Prioritizing health disparities in medical education to improve care.

Despite yearly advances in life-saving and preventive medicine, as well as strategic approaches by governmental and social agencies and groups, significant disparities remain in health, health quality, and access to health care within the United States. The determinants of these disparities include baseline health status, race and ethnicity, culture, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, region or geography, sexual orientation, and age. In order to renew the commitment of the medical community to address health disparities, particularly at the medical school level, we must remind ourselves of the roles of doctors and medical schools as the gatekeepers and the value setters for medicine.

Shaping a new generation of Hispanic clinical and translational researchers addressing minority health and health disparities.

In 2011, research educators face significant challenges. Training programs in Clinical and Translational Research need to develop or enhance their curriculum to comply with new scientific trends and government policies. Curricula must impart the skills and competencies needed to help facilitate the dissemination and transfer of scientific advances at a faster pace than current health policy and practice.

A multiinstitutional, multidisciplinary model for developing and teaching translational research in health disparities.

Health disparities may affect any person in any community in the world, resulting from a multitude of factors including socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, environment, and genetics. The impact of health disparities is felt by affected individuals, their families, communities, and the greater health care system. There is a critical need to increase health disparities research activities.